Chicago-Cook Business Center Cork County and Down County International Trade Partnership Programs

8.21.2008

County Cork &
County Down

Click here for Cork website
Click here for Down website

President John H. Stroger, Jr. launches the International Trade Partnership Program in 1995 to promote increased trade and investment between Chicago-Cook County and strategic Partner Regions around the world. Its mission is to foster bilateral trade and to provide a linkage service between overseas firms and local firms.
President Stroger hosts a delegation of government leaders from Cork County Ireland in March 1998. The delegation includes the County Council Chairman, three councilors, the Cork County Manager, and the County Development Officer. Chicago-Cook County business and government leaders join the President in a 4-day program of cultural, government and business events.
President Stroger leads an official government and trade development mission to Dublin and Cork Ireland in July 1999.The fifteen person delegation of government officials and business executives joins the President to foster economic, educational and cultural exchange with the President of Ireland and other top leaders in Ireland.
President Stroger signs a Sister County Agreement with Tomas Ryan, the Chairman of the Cork County Council to extend and strengthen the existing ties of commerce and friendship between Cook County and Cork in July 1999.
President Stroger hosts the Cork County Chairman and County Manager and the Director of the Jeanie Johnston Project from Tralee in Chicago in March 2000.
President Stroger sponsors an official governmental and trade mission to County Down Northern Ireland and Cork Ireland in May 2000. The Assessor of Cook County leads the delegation of twenty-one Cook County government officials and business executives on a program including cultural and governmental events as well as customized business sector roundtables and meetings.
President Stroger signs a historic formal trade partnership agreement in September 2000 with the region of County Down Northern Ireland, including the District Councils of Down, Newry and Mourne and Banbridge, making Cook County the first U.S. county to establish trade partnerships in both Ireland and Northern Ireland.
President Stroger forms the Partners with Ireland Committee in October 2000 to facilitate the International Trade Partnership Program with regions in Ireland and Northern Ireland.

View our extensive
Online Data Collections

Market Trends

Trade Trends

Industry Trends

Business Assistance DataBank

Community Profiles

Business Lists

Chicago-Cook Success Stories Online

Hot Topics

In The News: Chicago Metro A Success Story

Site Selection's "'Freaking Awesome' City
Tops All U.S. Metro Areas" by Ron Starner. March 2007.

The Economist's "A success story" 10-page survey of Chicago. March 18, 2006. (c) 2006 The Economist Newspaper Ltd. All rights reserved.

ITCC Global Manufacturing Series - December 7 - 8, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Ten Midwest Manufacturers Rewrite The Rules of Global Competition. The International Trade Club of Chicago announced today that senior executives from ten growing manufacturing companies will share..their international business strategies at the Federal Reserve Bank in Chicago...

Welcome to the Port of Chicago, Part I

Many of us are unaware of the activity that goes on every day at the Port of Chicago. With “all roads leading to Chicago” ours is one of the most important inland ports in the country...

Benuzzi Industrial Guide's "Welcome to the Port of Chicago, Part I," an in-depth interview with Tony Ianello, executive director of the Port of Chicago by Elise A. Couston, SIOR. July 2006. Reprinted with permission from the publisher.

Must-Know Small-Biz Stats & Facts

Did you know that small firms represent 99.7 percent of all employer firms in the U.S.? Here are some other facts and figures about small businesses that may surprise you...

Global Manufacturing Series Links Automotive and Medical Sector Opportunities

With automotive manufacturing dispersing from the Midwest, AutoMed2005 profiled the significant opportunities and ease of transition for U.S. automotive suppliers to also serve the rapidly growing medical manufacturing sector...